Punch cams



March 1964 G. E. LYONS ETAL HIGH-SPEED PUNCHING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 20,1961 FIG. 20

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INTERPOSER 13 INTERPOSER 14 PUNCH CAMS 2&5 &PUNCH DRIVE PLATE8 PUNCHCAMS 3&4 &PUNCH DRIVE PLATE9 PUNCH RESTORE CAMS PUNCH RESTORE BAIL?ACFNT United States Patent 3,126,150 HIGH-SJIEED PUNCHING MECHANISMGeorge E. Lyons, Hyde Park, and Raymond A. Barbeau,

Poughkeepsie, N.Y., assignors to International Business MachinesCorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Dec. 20,1961, Ser. No. 160,778 Claims. (Cl. 234-115) This invention relates topunching mechanisms and, more particularly, to very high-speed punchingmechanisms.

With the ever increasing speed of modern data processing systems, theproblems of converting output data to a usable form are becoming moreand more acute. Particularly troublesome is the great disparity in speedbetween the electronic data outputs and the mechanical devices whichtransform these data outputs to physical manifestations on recordmembers.

In the conversion of electronically derived information to punched tapeor cards, the limiting factor is often the s eed of the punch mechanism.Generally, in the prior art, mechanical punches have operated on theprinciple of driving each punch through a complex linkage from a drivingmeans. In such a mechanism, the entire linkage connected to anindividual punch executes one complete cycle for each actuation of thepunch; thus, limiting the speed of the punch to the rate at which theentire linkage is driven and restored. This principle of operation hasproven satisfactory so long as the punches were allowed to operate atmoderate speeds. For example, certain paper tape and card perforatingdevices of the prior art have operated in the range of to 60 cycles orpunches per second. This operating range permitted the use of springrestoring elements and conventional bearings. However, when attemptswere made to operate these punches at the desired higher rates of speed,neither the spring restoration elements nor the hearings were able towithstand prolonged use. Moreover, at these high speeds, harmonicvibrations were encountered in the spring restoration elements whichmade their use impractical. Noisy operation was another undesirableaspect which resulted from this mode of operation.

The present invention is primarily intended for use in high speed tapepreparation devices which may operate at speeds of 300 cycles per secondor higher. The principle of operation disclosed, however, is equallyapplicable to slow speed devices.

The principal object of the invention is, therefore, to provide apunching mechanism that is capable of operation at extremely highspeeds.

An additional object is to provide a punching mechanism capable of thehigh speed referred to, characterized by a linear positive drive of thepunch on both the punching and restoring strokes.

A further object of the invention is to provide extremely simpleactuating and restoring mechanisms for the punches.

Another object of the invention is to provide a punching mechanism thatoperates with a minimum amount of noise.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the problem of harmonicvibrations that is sometimes encountered in punching mechanisms.

In accordance with the foregoing objects this invention provides a pairof punch drive plates driven by a cam shaft, a punch restore bail alsodriven by the cam shaft, a plurality of punches, and a dual set ofinterposers, each of which is selectively insertable between chosen onesof the punches and the punch drive plates. Each punch drive plate isactuated once during a single revolution of the cam shaft therebyactuating any punches under which ice interposers have been inserted.After each actuation the punches are positively restored by the actionof the punch restore bail. Thus, the punches may be actuated at doublethe frequency of the cam shaft without the attendant disadvantages ofthe use of complex mechanisms.

The foregoing and other objects, featuresand advantages of the inventionwill be apparent from the following more particular description of apreferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawmgs.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the punching mechanism with a portion ofthe punch restore bail broken away.

FIG. 2a is a sectional end view of the punching mechanism shown in FIG.1 and taken along the line 2a2a.

FIG. 2b and 2c are partial sectional views of FIG. 2a at different timesin a punch cycle.

FIG. 3 is a timing chart which shows the relative movements of the majorelements employed in the punching mechanism.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawing, the punchingmechanism is provided with a shaft 1 which is coupled to any suitabledriving means, such as a motor, and is driven at high speed, forexample, r.p.m. Mounted rigidly on shaft 1 are single lobe cams 2, 3, 4,and 5 and double-lobe cam 6. Cams 2 and 5 are aligned as are cams 3 and4 but the aligned high lobes of cams 2 and 5 are displaced by from thealigned high lobes of cams 3 and 4. A punch dn've plate 9 is upwardlydisposed from and rides on cams 3 and 4; a punch drive plate 8 issimilarly disposed with respect to cams 2 and 5. For each 180 ofrotation of cam shaft 1, one of the punch drive plates is moved upwardlyby its associated cam drivers. In one complete revolution of shaft 1,both drive plates 8 and 9 receive successive actuations.

A punch restore bail 7 encircles the complete punch mechanism and inaddition to other functions, acts as a frame therefor. Shaft 1 extendsthrough a pair of elongated holes 30 (only one is shown) in punchrestore bail 7. Since shaft 1 is positionally fixed, its relationshipwith holes 30 acts to constrain the bail 7 to linear up and down travel.Both punch drive plates 8 and 9 extend at either extremity throughrectangular slots 17 (only one shown) in restore bail 7. Slots 17 act toconstrain the travel of punch drive plates 55 and 9 to linear up anddown motion. As either punch drive plate 8 or 9 is driven upwardly byits respective cam drivers, the portion thereof which extends throughslots 17 contacts the upper extremities of the slots and impels theentire restore bail 7 in an upward direction.

Projecting through the upper comb-like portion 18 of punch restore bail7 and stripper plate 20 (shown in FIG. 2a) are a plurality of punches 15having enlarged bases 16 and upper cutting surfaces 12. An oppositelydisposed pair of interposers 13 and 14 support the base 16 of each punch15 when the punches are in their nonpunch or home position. Althoughonly two sets of interposers are shown in FIG. 1, it should beunderstood that each punch has associated therewith an identical pair ofopositely disposed interposers.

Punch drive plates 8 and 9 provide the driving force to move the punches15 from their home position to a punch position; however, a selectedpunch will not be propelled upwardly unless one of its interposers 13 or14 is inserted over the actuated punch drive plate.

In their withdrawn position (FIG. 2a) interposers 13 and 14 aresupported by rest plates 10 and 11. The exterior mountings for restplates 10 and 11 have been omitted to simplify the drawings. Both restplates 10 and 11 remain stationary throughout the complete oper- :2ation of the punch mechanism. Also, at no time are the interposerscompletely withdrawn from beneath the bases 16 of punches 15.

Each interposer is separately inserted and withdrawn by an actuatingmeans. Any well known variety may be used, but for illustrativepurposes, one such actuating means is shown in FIG. 2a. When interposer14 is in the withdrawn position, electromagnet 24 is energized andelectromagnet 22 is die-energized. When the insertion of interposer 14is desired, energization is switched from electromagnet 24 toelectromagnet 22. Electromagnet 22 thereby attracts arm 23 which pivotsabout pin 25 and inserts interposer 14 over drive plate 9. One suchactuating means is provided for each interposer.

Punches which are to be actuated by punch drive plate -9 have theircorresponding interposers 14 placed in position over drive plate 9 whileit is in its unactuated or down position. Likewise, punches which are tobe actuated by punch drive plate 8 have their interposers inserted whileit is in its down position. In this manner, as the interposers insertedon the previous punch cycle are operated by one-punch drive plate, theinterposers for the punches to be actuated during the next punch cycleare being inserted over the other punch drive plate. As either punchdrive plate is upwardly actuated by its respective cam drivers, anyinterposers in place over the plate are caused to travel in an upwarddirection, this motion also being imparted to the corresponding punches.When the actuated drive plate reaches the limit of its upward travel,the cutting surfaces 12 of the selected punches extend into the orificein die 21 thereby resulting in the perforation of any record memberwhich may pass between die 21 and stripper plate 20.

With reference now back to FIG. 1, each high lobe of cam 6 is displaced90 from the high lobes of cams 2-5 and 34 respectively. In addition, theexterior curvature of cam 6 is complementary to the combined curvaturesof cams 25 and 3-4. Associated with cam 6 is an upwardly disposedfollower section 19 of punch restore bail 7. As previously stated, punchrestore bail 7 is actuated upwardly by the interaction of the punchdrive plates 8 or 9 and the upper portions of slots 17. Punch restorebail 7 is so constructed that during its upward actuation, its followerportion 19 is firmly held against cam 6. As soon as the high lobes ofthe pair of positive driving cams begin to retreat from their uppermostposition, cam 6, because of its complementary curvature, positivelypushes follower portion 19 in a downward direction. This achieves athreefold purpose: The upper portions of slots 17 push down on andthereby act to restore the actuated punch drive plate; during therestorative action, the particular punch drive plate being restored isfirmly held against its driving cams; and any punches actuated by thedrive plate are withdrawn from the record member nad returned to theirhome position by the downward force exerted on their base portions 16 bythe teeth of comb-like section 18 of restore bail 7.

The result of this operation is that there is a positive driving camboth during the actuation and restoration of the punches and punch driveplates. This configuration prevents excessive noise, provides a positivedriving and restoration force for both the punches and the punch driveplates, and eliminates the need for spring biasing.

Referring now to FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 3, a complete cycle of operationof the punching mechanism will be described. FIG. 3 is a timing chartwhich shows a single cycle of operation of cam shaft 1. The base line ofeach of the separate cam curves is assumed to be the low dwell of thepunch cams 2 and 5. In the particular example shown, punch 15 isactuatedtwice during the cycle along with its respective interposers 13 and 14.It should be recognized, however, that this is merely exemplary and thateither one or the other or neither of the interposers, could beactuated, depending upon the desired perforation of the record member.Moreover, although the operation of only one of the punches isdescribed, the other punches in the mechanism are actuated in a similarmanner, according to the data to be perforated.

Initially, or at 0 (FIGS. 2a and 3), it is assumed that the high lobesof cams 2 and 5 are at their extreme upward position and that interposer13 was not inserted during the last half of the previous cycle. Thus,though punch drive plate 8 is actuated, punch base 16 remains resting oninterposers 13 and 14 and cutting portion 12 is not extended. The highlobes of cams 3 and 4 are at their extreme downward position. Sincepunch 15 is to be actuated twice during this cycle, interposer 14 mustnext be inserted between punch drive plate 9 and punch base 16. This isaccomplished during the interval t which is the time during which punchcams 3 and 4 are at their low dwell and punch drive plate 9 is in itsunactuated position. The insertion of interposer 14 is accomplished byswitching energization from electromagnet 24 to electromagnet 22 therebyresulting in an attraction of arm 23 to electromagnet 22. As arm 22pivots about point 25, interposer 14 is inserted over punch drive plate9.

As the high lobes of cams 2 and 5 continue to rotate, they cease beingthe positive driving power within the mechanism and a high lobe of punchrestore cam 6 assumes control. The interaction of follower portion 19 ofpunch restore bail 7 with the controlling high lobe of cam 6 forces therestore bail 7 downward causing the restoration of previously actuatedpunch drive plate 8 and any punches (other than punch 15) which wereactuated during the previous half cycle. When the controlling high lobeof cam 6 reaches its lowermost orientation, the punch mechanism is fullyrestored with all punches and drive plates in their unactuatedpositions.

Shortly, after the restoration of the punch mechanism, punch cams 3 and4 acting upon punch drive plate 9 assume positive driving control.Because interposer 14 is now in position over punch drive plate 9, it,as well as punch 15 and punch restore bail 7, is carried upward as plate9 is actuated by cams 3 and 4. When the high lobes of cams 3 and 4 reachtheir uppermost orientation (FIG. 2b) at cutter portion 12 of punch 15extends into the orifice in die 21, thereby perforating any recordmember between stripper plate 20 and die 21.

During interval t which is when cams 2 and 5 are at low dwell and driveplate 8 is unactuated, interposer 13 is inserted between punch driveplate 8 and punch base 16. This is accomplished in a similar manner andwith a similar mechanism (not shown) to that utilized for interposer 14.

Shortly after punch 15 perforates the record member, the positivedriving force Within the mechanism again switches and a high lobe of cam6 assumes control from punch cams 3 and 4. This action results in acomplete restoration of the punch mechanism to its non-punch state aspreviously described. At any time after the punch has perforated therecord member, interposer 14 may either be withdrawn or left in placedependent upon the desired punching scheme in the next punch cycle.

After the restoration of the mechanism by punch restore cam 6 and punchrestore bail 7, punch cams 2 and 5 assume positive driving control ofthe mechanism and cause the actuation of punch 15 through the upwardmovement of punch drive plate 8 and interposer 13 (FIG. 20). Thiscompletes a single revolution of cam shaft 1.

In this preferred embodiment, the timing of the insertion of theinterposers has been described with respect to punch operation at lessthan maximum speeds. If maximum speed operation is desired, the amountof time available for insertion of the interposers can be increased byenergizing the insertion electromagnet as soon as the punch drive platehas begun to rise on the cycle just previous to that in which interposerinsertion thereover is desired. In this manner, the interposer will beblocked by the drive plate until it returns to its unactuated position.The interposer then slides in over the drive plate and under the punchand is fully inserted.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim:

1. A punch mechanism comprising:

a set of punches movable between punch and nonpunch positions;

a pair of single element multiple punch drivers, slidably disposed tomove between punch and non-punch positions each driver being capable ofmoving all of said punches;

multilobe cyclic cam means for alternatively reciprocating said driversduring a single cycle;

and a plurality of interposer means insertable between chosen ones ofthe punches of said set and said moved one of said drivers to transmitsaid driver movement to said chosen punches causin said chosen punchesto be extended to the punch position.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 further comprising means actuatedby said cam means for restoring said chosen punches to the non-punchposition after each driver movement.

3. A cyclic punch mechanism comprising:

a pair of single element multiple punch drivers slidably disposed tomove between punch and non-punch positions;

cyclic cam means for actuating said drivers successively in a cycle tothe punch position;

a plurality of punches;

a plurality of first interposer means adapted to be inserted during afirst portion of said cycle between chosen ones of said punches and oneof said drivers to transmit the movement of said one driver to saidchosen punches;

a plurality of second interposer means adapted to be inserted during asecond portion of said cycle between chosen ones of said punches and theother driver to transmit the movement of said other driver to saidchosen punches;

and restoring means driven by said cam means for moving said chosenpunches and the actuated driver to the non-punch position after eachportion of said cycle.

4. A cyclic punch mechanism comprising:

a pair of single element multiple punch drivers linearly movable betweenpunch and non-punch positions;

cyclic cam means for actuating each of said drivers successively in acycle to the punch position;

a plurality of punches;

a plurality of first interposer means adapted to be inserted during afirst portion of said cycle between and in engagement with chosen onesof said punches and one of said drivers to transmit the movement of saidone driver to said chosen punches;

a plurality of second interposer means adapted to be inserted during asecond portion of said cycle between and in engagement with chosen onesof said punches and the other driver to transmit the movement of saidother driver to said chosen punches;

and restoring means linearly driven by said cam means for moving saidchosen punches and the actuated driver to the non-punch position aftereach portion of said cycle.

5. In a high speed punching mechanism:

a cyclically rotatable shaft;

first and second cam means mounted on said shaft;

a pair of movable punch drive plates displaced succes sively from anon-punch position to a punch position by said first cam means during acycle of said shaft;

a plurality of movable punches;

a plurality of interposers positionable between said drive plates andselected ones of said punches to transmit drive plate displacement tosaid selected punches;

and a restore bail engaging and operated by said second cam means aftereach successive displacement for restoring said selected punches and thedisplaced drive plate.

6. In a high speed punching device:

a rotatable cam shaft having first and second cam means mounted thereon,said first and second cam means having complementary cam surfaces;

first and second punch drive plates successively driven to a punchposition by said first cam means during a revolution of said shaft;

a plurality of punches movable between punch and nonpunch positions;

a plurality of interposers positionable between said punch drive platesand selected punches for transmitting to said selected punches themovement to the punch position of each said plate;

and restore means operated to a punch position coincidentally with saidpunch drive plates and operated to a non-punch position by said secondcam means, said restore means positioned about said punches and punchdrive plates and embracing the punches so that upon operation by saidsecond cam means said restoring means returns said punches and punchdrive plates to the non-punch position.

7. In a high speed punching device:

a rotatable shaft having mounted thereon first cam means having a singlelobe, second cam means having a single lobe diametrically opposed to thelobe on said first cam means and a double lobe cam complementary to acombination of said first and second cam means;

first and second punch drive plates successively driven from a non-punchposition to a punch position by said first and second cam meansrespectively;

a plurality of punches movable between punch and nonpunch positions;

a plurality of interposers positionable between said punch drive platesand selected ones of said punches for transmitting to said selectedpunches the movement to the punch position of each said plate;

and restoring means actuated to a punch position by said punch driveplates and returned to a non-punch position by said double lobe cam,said restore means embracing said punches and said punch drive plates sothat upon activation by said double lobe cam said restore means returnssaid punches and punch drive plates to the non-punch position.

8. The device as described in claim 7 wherein said restore meanscomprises a movable single element bail hav- 9. In a high speed punchingdevice:

a rotatable shaft having mounted thereon first cam means having a singlelobe, second cam means having a single lobe diametrically opposed to thelobe on said first cam means and a double lobe cam complementary to acombination of said first and second cam means;

first and second punch drive plates successively driven from a non-punchposition to a punch position by said first and second cam meansrespectively;

a plurality of punches movable between punch and nonpunch position;

a pair of interposers for each punch, the interposers of each pair beingrespectively related to said punch drive plates and positionable betweenthe corresponding punch and the respective drive plates, fortransmitting to said punch the movement to the punch position of therespective drive plate;

and restoring means moved to a punch position by each of said punchdrive plates and returned to a nonpunch position by said double lobecam, said restoring means embracing said punches and said punch driveplates so that upon restoration by said double lobe cam, said restoringmeans returns the moved 5 ones of said punches and punch drive plates tothe non-punch position. 10. The device as claimed in claim 9 whereinsaid restore means comprises a movable bail which includes a toothedportion through which said punches extend, slotted 10 portions throughwhich said punch drive plates pass, and a follower portion in contactwith said double lobe cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. A PUNCH MECHANISM COMPRISING: A SET OF PUNCHES MOVABLE BETWEEN PUNCHAND NONPUNCH POSITIONS; A PAIR OF SINGLE ELEMENT MULTIPLE PUNCH DRIVERS,SLIDABLY DISPOSED TO MOVE BETWEEN PUNCH AND NON-PUNCH POSITIONS EACHDRIVER BEING CAPABLE OF MOVING ALL OF SAID PUNCHES; MULTILOBE CYCLIC CAMMEANS FOR ALTERNATIVELY RECIPROCATING SAID DRIVERS DURING A SINGLECYCLE; AND A PLURALITY OF INTERPOSER MEANS INSERTABLE BETWEEN CHOSENONES OF THE PUNCHES OF SAID SET AND SAID MOVED ONE OF SAID DRIVERS TOTRANSMIT SAID DRIVER MOVEMENT TO SAID CHOSEN PUNCHES CAUSING SAID CHOSENPUNCHES TO BE EXTENDED TO THE PUNCH POSITION.